Improvement in automatic rope-skippers



.I. HOFFMANN.

Automatic Rope-Skippers.

No, 140,503, PatentedJulyhI873.

mljzassesa/wz %W WV AM. PHDTO-UTIIUGRAPHIC 00. N. Y. (ossamvzb macsss) UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

JOSEPH HOFFMANN, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

IMPROVEMENT IN AUTOMATIC ROPE-SKIPE'ERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 140,503, dated July 1, 1873; application filed May 6, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPH HOFFMAN, of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Dancing Toys, of which the following is a specification:

This invention consists in a combination, with a revolving crank or eccentric moved by clock-work, of a doll or figure pendent by its superior lower weight on the wrist-pin of the crank, which pin and a corresponding one on the opposite side of the figure are arranged to enter within the hands of the figure, and are fitted loose so as to be capable of turning in their sockets, or otherwise fitted loose within the hands of the figure, whereby the latter is made to preserve an erect position, while a dancing action is communicated to it by the motion of the crank or cranks. The inventionalso consists in a combination, with the aforesaid devices, arranged as described, of a skipping-bow fast at its ends to the revolving cranks or their spindles, whereby a skipping illusion or effect is produced in connection with the dancing figure. V

In the accompanying drawing, which represents a front view of my improved toy, A is the base of the toy; and B, clock-work or mechanism mounted thereon, and capable of being wound up for the purpose of revolving an eccentric or crank, 0, having a wrist-pin, b, there being another or corresponding crank, O, at a suitable distance from the first, but in the same axial line with it, and having a corresponding wrist-pin, I), such second crank having its bearing in an upright, D. E is the doll or figure arranged between the cranks (l O, and so that it is pendent by its hands and superior lower weight upon the wrist-pins b b, which are fitted to turn freely in their respective cranks, so that onrevolvin g motion being communicated to the cranks, or one of them, the doll or figure is made to preserve an erect position, while having a dancing action given it by the motion of the cranks. The superior lower weight, which, in connection with the free turning tit of the'wrist-pins in their sockets or in the hands of the figure, is necessary to preserve the perpendicularity of the figure, may be given to the latter by making its feet, or lower portion of its legs and feet, 0 c, of metal, or otherwise weighting such'parts. Connected with the cranks O O, on the opposite side of the centers of the latter to that of the wristpins b I), and arranged to rotate in common with the cranks, is a skipping rope or bow, G, of suitable length and width to clear the dancing doll or figure when in motion and to clear the base A, asthe figure by its dancing motion is lifted from the latter. This gives a pleasing and most natural illusion or efi'eet of a child engaged in practicing or playing with a skipping-rope, and which may be maintained for a considerable length of time by the instrumentality of the driving mechanism or clock-work.

What is here claimed, and desired to be se' cured by Letters Patent, is

1. The doll or figure E, made of superior weight below, and freely pendent at its hands, by or on the wrist-pins b b of the revolving cranks O O, in combination with the clockwork B, substantially as specified.

2. The skipping-bow G, in combination with revolving cranks G G and the figure E, of superior weight below, and pendent by its hands from or through the wrist-pins I) I) of the cranks, essentially as herein described.

JOSEPH HOFFMANN.

Witnesses:

MICHAEL RYAN, FRED. HAYNES. 

